Eatontown Considering Creation of Local TV Channel

By Christopher Sheldon

The Eatontown Council is considering the creation of a local TV channel that would broadcast borough events, emergency messages and provide local weather and traffic.

Mark Van Wagner spoke about Go Home Films, a local production company, presented the idea to the council during its meeting this week. He said it could also be used a promotional tool for the borough and local businesses.

The borough would have to purchase equipment for the channel to be broadcast by Verizon and Comcast for its local subscribers.  

Van Wagner said the equipment used to broadcast the material can be run through a laptop or desktop computer.  

Mayor Gerald Tarantolo said he wanted to see more about how the production would be run and where the equipment would be housed, since it would be purchased and owned by the borough.

Councilman Dennis Connelly said he also wanted to know if the channel would be run by volunteers or paid staff.

"I think it's too big to just let volunteers run it," Connelly said.

The council is also waiting to hear a proposal from the Social Community Activities Network (SCAN), which is looking to use borough funds to purchase equipment to provide a similar service.

The borough has Cable Television Franchise funds, an $87,000 technology grant it has already received from Comcast, that would be used to possibly purchase equipment for one of the proposals.

Some of the funds have been earmarked for an e-ticketing systems for the Eatontown Police Department, which still has to go out to bid for the technology.